Mary Lou Giltner

Mary Lou Giltner was born August 13, 1927, in Granada, Colorado and passed away peacefully January 15, 2015, in La Junta, Colorado. Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents George and Edith Newell, her brother Eugene, her first husband Robert "Bob" Jones, two daughters, Linda Jones-Doty and Mary Anne Jones-Vaughn, a stepson, Louis and a granddaughter Amanda Vaughn. She is survived by her husband of 40 years Elmer, seven children; Bonnie Jones-Walters, Roberta (Bill) Jones, Robin Jones, Rebecca (Michael) Jones-Graham, Verner Giltner, Elanna Giltner-Harger, Margie Giltner-Kirk; 15 grandchildren, Michelle, Susanne, Jason, Misty, Shawn, Robert, Rue, Chase, Jacque, Duane, Danielle, Candace, Shawna, Staci and Whitney; and 26 great-grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews.


Mary Lou graduated from Canon City High School in 1945 then attended Western State College. In 1946, she and Bob were married, living in Canon City, CO; Monte Vista, CO; Alamosa, CO; Grand Junction, CO; Lewiston, Idaho; Santa Fe, New Mexico and Pueblo, CO, together for 24 years, until his death in 1970, after which she attended Pueblo Business College earning an Associates Degree in Business Administration.


In 1975, Mary Lou married Elmer and they too moved around a bit living in Pueblo, Powell, Wyoming, then in 1987 finally settling in La Junta, CO. Mary Lou and Elmer were great travelers whether in one of their antique cars on a cross-country road trip or exploring parts of the British Isles, Europe, Mexico, or Hawaii. Ultimately they found two countries that captured their hearts and souls, Australia and New Zealand where they returned to life-long friends many times over.


Motherhood was Mary Lou’s primary profession. As if that wasn’t enough, she also managed to be a Girl Scout leader, a Sunday school teacher, a 4-H leader, a volunteer at Hospice and 10,000 Villages, as well as work outside the home for a several years. She was very active in the Methodist Church. Flower gardening was her delight, the more flowers the better.


In lieu of flowers memorial funds have been established for the Arkansas Valley Hospice, P.O. Box 408, 531 Lewis Ave. La Junta, CO 81050 and Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center Nursing Care Center, 514 West 10th Street, La Junta, CO, 81050 direct or through the funeral home.


Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.


Mary Lou’s funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at the First United Methodist Church in La Junta.
Internment service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at Imperial Gardens Cemetery in Pueblo.